Question

what is an unintended negative effect that long - term pesticide use can have on the targeted environment?
1 the amount of food the pests need to survive will be reduced.
2 the pests that survive can develop resistance to the pesticides.
3 the number of animals that compete for resources with the pests can increase.
4 the amount of pesticide needed to eliminate the pests will be reduced over time.

Explanation:

To determine the unintended negative effect of long - term pesticide use, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: Reducing the food pests need is not a typical unintended negative effect of pesticide use. Pesticides are for controlling pests, not directly reducing their food sources in a negative - environmental - impact - related way.
• Option 2: When pesticides are used long - term, the pests with genetic traits that allow them to survive the pesticide exposure can reproduce. Over time, this leads to a population of pests that are resistant to the pesticide. This is a well - known unintended negative consequence as it makes pest control more difficult and can lead to increased pesticide use or less effective pest management.
• Option 3: Long - term pesticide use is more likely to harm non - target organisms (including animals that compete with pests) rather than increase their numbers. Pesticides can have a broad - spectrum effect on the ecosystem.
• Option 4: If pests develop resistance, the amount of pesticide needed to eliminate them would likely increase, not decrease, over time.

Answer:

1. The pests that survive can develop resistance to the pesticides.